Applications open for Safaricom accelerator programme

Applications have opened for the Safaricom Foundation Technology for Good Accelerator, a three-month incubation and seed funding programme aimed at helping Kenyan startups scale their solutions globally.

The accelerator is looking for mobile tech-driven startups in the fields of education, health, economic empowerment, environmental conservation, water, arts, culture and disaster relief, with applications open until June 2 and the programme beginning that month.

Applicants will be shortlisted and startups chosen for the programme based on a full-day workshop and pitch presentation. Selected startups will be incubated for three months at @iBizAfrica at Strathmore University, with the possibility of obtaining up to US$50,000 in seed funding.

Payments will be paid based on pre-agreed milestones, with the Safaricom Foundation reserving the right to take a negotiated equity stake in the startups. The focus is on the potential of the innovation to bring change to the community.

During the programme, the startups will have access to training and mentorship, and will embark on building a minimum viable product for proof of concept.

The Safaricom Foundation is looking for applications from teams with minimum of three people, aged between 18 and 35, that have the relevant technical and business capacity required to successfully execute the the business.

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Passionate about the vibrant tech startups scene in Africa, Tom can usually be found sniffing out the continent's most exciting new companies and entrepreneurs, funding rounds and any other developments within the growing ecosystem.